The Awards are being presented on Friday, 7 December, at The Grange Tower Bridge Hotel, London. Seats at the Awards lunch are sold out, with more than 360 people filling them.

Loyd Grossman will be familiar to many for his distinctive accent (he was born in Massachusetts, USA, and moved to England in 1975) from his various television appearances on programmes such as ‘Through the Keyhole’ and ‘MasterChef’.

Others might know him for his range of food sauces or his association with the heritage sector – he is Chairman of The Heritage Alliance (of which Stone Federation is a member), Vice President of the Churches Conservation Trust and Chairman of The Royal Parks. He was involved in the launch of Stone Federation’s Stone Heritage Register in May last year.

His love of history was evident early in his life when he became a Batchelor of Arts in History from Boston University before coming to the UK. He later gained a Master’s in Economic History from the London School of Economics and later still a Master’s in Art and a Doctorate in Philosophy from Cambridge.

Some readers might even remember him as a Punk Rock guitarist, especially as he resumed his guitar playing at Glastonbury in 2015 with a band he called Loyd Grossman and the New Forbidden (a reference to the 1970s band he was part of called Jet Bronx and the Forbidden).

Loyd is a strong advocate for the role of the private sector in heritage and promotes the interests and concerns of members of The Heritage Alliance with key influencers and decision makers in Whitehall and Westminster and with the business community.

With his diverse background, wide range of interests and lively presentation style, you can be sure his contribution to the Natural Stone Awards will be amusing and memorable for all the right reasons.

The Natural Stone Awards ceremony is a two-yearly highlight for the natural stone industry, bringing together a full house of architects, designers, contractors and natural stone firms who have played their part in creating and preserving the built heritage of the British Isles. It is recognition and a celebration of the very best that design and construction has to offer in natural stone new build and conservation, interiors and landscaping.

Due to expansion a leading worktop, cladding, paving and tiling specialists based in Poole, Dorset is looking to appoint the following operatives for immediate start.
Full-time Stonemason / Polisher / Fabricator for...

Haysom Purbeck Stone, a long-establised family business in Purbeck, is seeking to employ a workshop '/ production manager to oversee manufacture of paving and architectural masonry.
Salary / benefits depending on...

Long established family business in Purbeck is seeking to employ a workshop / production manager to oversee manufacture of paving and architectural masonry.
Salary / benefits depending on experience.
Please send CV or...

The new 20th edition of the Natural Stone Directory is now out including more listings than ever before. For the most comprehensive coverage of the UK’s natural stone quarries, stonemasons, wholesalers, equipment and service suppliers and industry related organisations order a copy now.

Natural Stone Specialist is the UK’s only magazine dedicated to the natural stone industry. Each issue features some of the most interesting projects in stone, both new build and conservation, including the views of architects and designers, clients, and the masonry companies involved.